Instrument cluster

[ashbcbg]

Hi all!!
I`m looking to change my instrument cluster on a W140 S280.Can anyone tell me if it is a straightforward swap or does the new one "second hand cluster" have to be programmed in any way.My speedo is reading 135k and the replacement cluster is showing 100k.Reason for change - my cluster has a faulty fuel gauge which stays on the 3/4 mark regardless of amount of fuel and i replaced the fuel sender unit but its still faulty.so im thinking probably its the cluster.The other reason is i want to export the car to a country which uses KM not MILES and my current unit only shows MILES and it has no readings for KM on the dials.Please help....anyone??

 

[Shude]

If it is an electronic instrument cluster then the stealership can only change the mileage if it's done less than a certain amount (like 1000 miles or something) BUT I'm sure a flick through the yellow pages will reveal one of those shady "mileage correction" guys who I'm sure can sort it out for you. You might need to explain that you actually want to INCREASE the distance shown on the cluster rather than decrease otherwise it might end up reading just 35k .

 

[whitenemesis]

I think you need a STAR and SCN coding ability.

If the mileage on the cluster differs from the mileage held in the car the cluster will revert to reading ---------

Edit - For electronic clusters (as Shude points out)

 

[mr. shr]

Plus, I've been told that the electronic ignition switch also stores the milage and if it differs from what the cluster says, then the car wont start.

 

[Shude]

Plus, I've been told that the electronic ignition switch also stores the milage and if it differs from what the cluster says, then the car wont start.

That's possible, but on my W202 I plugged in several different instrument clusters from different models with different displayed mileages and even drove around with a 208 facelift cluster attached for about 1-2 miles and the cluster was not bothered in the slightest - the car also started perfectly. My car is a 1998 (MY99) W202 c230k.

Only problem was the 210 diesel cluster complained that my glowplugs had failed or were missing and the fuel gauge ran backwards! I have pics (already posted on the forum, a long time ago!).